Environmental Charter Schools

Board of Directors' Meeting

By Teleconference/Zoom

Date and Time

Thursday March 17, 2022 at 5:00 PM PDT

Location

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/147466498?pwd=MnB5Vkc4aG41OEZ1dDdtcWoxQjV0dz09
 
OR 
 
Dial-In: (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 147 466 498, Passcode: 133043
 
Two-way Teleconference Location: 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Suite 100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278

ECS Board Members                              Term   and    End Date    
Mr. Anthony Jowid, President..................3 years June 30, 2022
Mr. Ken Deemer, Vice President.............3 years June 30, 2022
Dr. Denise Berger, Secretary...................3 years  June 30, 2023
Ms. Zena Fong........................................2 year June 30, 2023
Ms. Jenina Ramirez.................................3 years June 30, 2024
Dr. Madhu Chatwani................................3 years June 30, 2023
Mr. Kennedy Hilario.................................3 years June 30, 2023
Lawndale Elementary School District Representative, Rotating Position      

ECS Staff   
Ms. Farnaz Golshani-Flechner, Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director
Ms. Danielle Kelsick, Chief Academic Officer
Ms. Alison Diaz, Director of Growth and Sustainability (Facilities)
Dr. Beth Bernstein-Yamashiro, Director of Principal Development/Principal Coach

Tracy Bondi, Director of Finance

Julie Vo, Director of Development

Jeremiah David, Director of Compliance and Operations

Sarah Jamieson, Director of Human Resources

Michael Martucci, Director of Student Services

Jen Fenton, Director of Health and Safety
Ms. KC Fabiero, Principal at ECHS-Lawndale
Dr. Geneva Matthews, Principal at ECMS-Inglewood
Mr. Dave Trejo, Principal at ECMS-Gardena
Dr. Cindy Guardado, Principal at ECHS-Gardena  

Mission:

Reimagine public education in low-income communities of color to prepare conscious, critical thinkers who are equipped to graduate from college and create a more equitable and sustainable world.

Values:

JUSTICE - We examine bias, racism, and prejudice. We deliver culturally-responsive curricula. We succeed when students’ race and class cease to predict their level of achievement.

COMMUNITY - We care. We collaborate. We respect the rights and voices of our stakeholders.

CURIOSITY - We question. We explore. We innovate.

SUSTAINABILITY - We think globally and act locally. We adapt. We encourage systems thinking to create a sustainable future.

LEADERSHIP - We listen. We think critically. We advocate. We shift public discourse. We are our own superheroes.

THE ORDER OF BUSINESS MAY BE CHANGED WITHOUT NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the order of consideration of matters on this agenda may be changed without prior notice.

PUBLIC SPEAKERS AT BOARD MEETINGS
Notice is hereby given that consistent with the requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act, special presentations not mentioned in the agenda may be made at this meeting.  However, any such presentation will be for information only. The public should be aware that the Board is unable by law to deliberate or take action on items raised during the Presentations from the Floor section.

Environmental Charter Schools recognizes that it benefits greatly from public input and perspective. Individuals are invited to address the Board on any topic or subject matter that falls within the Environmental Charter School's purview. Speakers may sign up in person immediately prior to the beginning of the Board meeting by turning in a Speaker Form (available at the check-in table in English and Spanish).

Should a member of the public wish to speak on matters not listed on the agenda, they may speak during the Presentations from the Floor section of the agenda. Speakers will be given a maximum of three (3) minutes each to address the Board (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of six (6) minutes each). Please note that the Board allows a maximum of 10 minutes to each subject as determined by the Board's presiding officer.

Should a member of the public wish to speak on matters listed on the agenda, they may speak during the Presentations from the Floor section of the agenda. Speakers will be given a maximum of five (5) minutes each to address the Board (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of ten (10) minutes each).

The public should be aware that the Board is unable by law to deliberate or take action on items raised during the Presentations from the Floor section.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION WILL BE PROVIDED FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY
Pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, any individual with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to attend or participate in this meeting of the Governing Board may request assistance by contacting ECS at (310) 214-3408, option 5.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information concerning this agenda or for materials relating to this meeting, please contact ECS at (310) 214-3408, option 5.

Agenda

Section Number Topic Number Details Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 5:00 PM
 
Opening Items
 
  A. Record Attendance and Guests   Anthony Jowid 1 m
   
  • Dr. Betsy Hamilton, Lawndale Elementary School District (LESD) Superintendent (attending as LESD board representative for current ECS board meeting) - see bio here
 
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Anthony Jowid 1 m
  C. Approve the agenda Vote Anthony Jowid 1 m
II. Presentations from the Floor 5:03 PM
  A. Presentations from the floor on non-agenda Items FYI
   
Should a member of the public wish to speak on matters not listed on the agenda, they may speak during the Presentations from the Floor section of the agenda. Speakers will be given a maximum of three (3) minutes each to address the Board (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of six (6) minutes each).
 
  B. Presentations from the floor on agenda items FYI
   
Should a member of the public wish to speak on matters listed on the agenda, they may speak during the Presentations from the Floor section of the agenda. Speakers will be given a maximum of five (5) minutes each to address the Board (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of ten (10) minutes each).
 
III. Reports/Discussions 5:03 PM
  A. Preview of annual Executive Director evaluation and salary comparison process FYI Anthony Jowid 5 m
  B. Board member recruitment discussion Discuss Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 3 m
IV. Consent Items A-G 5:11 PM
  A. Approve minutes for 2/24/2022 ECS Board Meeting Approve Minutes Jeremiah David 3 m
     
  B. Approve Board Resolution 2021-2022 #4 - Authorizing Remote Board Meetings Vote Jeremiah David
     
  C. Approve California Energy Commission’s California Schools Healthy Air, Plumbing, and Efficiency (CalSHAPE) Program Board Resolutions for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I Vote Alison Diaz / Jeremiah David
   

Program description:

The California Schools Healthy Air, Plumbing, and Efficiency Program (CalSHAPE) provides funding to upgrade heating, air conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) systems in public schools and replaces noncompliant plumbing fixtures and appliances that fail to meet water efficiency standards.

 

ECS has been awarded funding for 3 of its schools with the grant agreements for each school and board resolutions to accept the funding and grant terms enclosed below:

 

 

 
  D. Approve purchase of additional student Chromebooks and staff laptops Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • Student Chromebooks (qty 400) quote
    • Total cost: $138,255
    • Rationale: Student Chromebooks have been more utilized and transported between school and home more during the pandemic than previously and this has resulted in a speeding up of the need to replace Chromebooks that are old, damaged, or obsolete. This proposed purchase of student Chromebooks addresses both needs through the start of the next school year.
  • Staff laptops (qty 16) quote
    • Total cost: $21,070
    • Rationale: There have been more new hires this school year of staff to address pandemic-related safety and social-emotional needs as well as a need to replace aging laptops that are more than 5 years old. This proposed purchase of staff laptops addresses both needs through the start of the next school year.
 
  E. Approve ECHS-Lawndale Outdoor Education CELP Fall 2022 Contract Vote Tracy Bondi
   
 
  F. Approve ECHS-Lawndale 2021-2022 Parent-Student Handbook Vote KC Fabiero
     
  G. Approve School Plans for Student Achievement for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G Vote Jeremiah David
   

School Plans for Student Achievement:

 

 
V. Action Item 5:14 PM
  A. Approve Second Interim Financials Vote Tracy Bondi 3 m
     
VI. Upcoming Dates/Announcements 5:17 PM
  A. Next ECS Board Meeting FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 1 m
   
  • May 26, 2022 at 5pm (virtual board meeting)
 
  B. Next ECS Committee Meetings FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 1 m
   
  • Facilities Committee - April 27, 2022 at 4:30pm
  • Governance Committee - May 17, 2022 at 10:30am
  • Finance Committee - June 17, 2022 at 8:30am
 
  C. Appreciations Discuss All Attendees 2 m
VII. Closing Items 5:21 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Anthony Jowid 1 m